Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Dr. Andrew Gifford, 1763 October 31

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date31 October, 1763

Call Number763581

abstractWheelock writes to Dr. Gifford thanking him for his support at a time when hostilities with the Indians have stopped donations and interfered with missionary work. Wheelock asks Gifford to befriend General Lyman in England to advance the interests of the School.

handwritingHandwriting is small and informal, with several additions and deletions.

paperSingle large sheet is in good condition, with light creasing, staining and wear.

inkBrown-black.

noteworthyThe additions and deletions, along with the lack of a seal, indicate that this is likely a draft. On one verso, in the left margin, a note reading "Ind. Mis." has been added in a different, likely 19th-century, hand. This note has not been transcribed.

EventsOccom’s Third Mission to the Oneidas

Persistent Identifier

Rev.d and Hond Sir.
Three Days ago my Heart was refreſhed by the
Rec.t of Yours of July 6th which came at a Time when I needed
Such a refreſhing cordial, having received repeated and Shocking
accots of the Rage and Hoſtilities of the Savages againſt our Southern
Governments, and that our people were put into Such a Flame thereby,
that inſtead of Charity & chriſtian Compaſsion to their periſhing Souls,
but little, beſides Threatenings of Slaughter & Deſtruction Seem’d to be breathed
forth from every Quarter, and as an Evidence that this was the common
Temper of this Government at preſent I was told that a Contribution
had been was moved for in conſequence of a Breif granted by the Governour
and Company in favour of this School, in a Large Aſsembly in the
Town of Windſor on Connecticut River, and that nothing was
obtained by it but a Bullet & Flynt, and that some other congrega­
tions where the Contribution had been aſked for, had done but
little better, and that conſequently I might expect but little Aſsiſtance
from that Quarter, at preſent. at this very Juncture even while my
Informers were preſent, came yours filld with the Spirit of Love &
containing Such acco.t of the Liberality already Shewn and a Diſpoſi­
­tion to further Expreſsions of it, as there Shall be occaſsion, as that
it Seemd as tho’ Omnicient Goodneſs had directed your pen in writing and
ordered the very minute of your of illegible yr Letter’s arrival^ to forbid an unquiet or Anxious
Tho’t for the Support of this Deſign.
The Lord mercifully reward you, dear Sir, and whoever has
had a Hand with you in procuring the Donation to this School,
which you give me Leave to Expect by the next Ship. It will be very
acceptable indeed, as was the Box of Books Sent by M.r Forfitt from
the Society for Propagating Religious Knowledge among the poor.
I read your Letter in the hearing of My Indian Boys, and Joseph
Woolley
a Delaware, one of the Number, whom I hope were conver­
ted laſt Winter, replyed, full of Affection. “O I Wish I knew how
to expreſs my Gratitude to those Good Gentlemen, for Such Expreſsi­
ons of their Kindneſs.” And I truſt the Blesſsing of many who have
never yet known the Plague of their own Hearts, yea of many Yet un­
born will come upon You. You may depend upon my beſt Endeavours
to improve these and any Favours which you or others Shall See fit
to conferr upon this School, in the beſt manner I am able for the
Furtherance of the Great Deſign in view.
I hope his Majeſty, our dear Sovereign, will be divinely direc­
ted into Such Meaſures as will fully diſclose the true Source & Origin
of the preſent Rupture. And when that is Shall be done I am perſwaded, the
heavieſt Share in the Guilt will be found with Such unrighteous [illegible][guess: Deal­]
ers with the Indians, as have no Regard, but to getsecure to themſelves
large Eſtates, and that by any fraudulent, and oppreſsive Meaſures which
Apear likely the ſooneſt to accompliſh that End, tho’ it bear the Expense
of the public Peace and the Ruin of the poor Creatures.
I think believe when the true Cauſes of this great Evil, are ſhall be thoroughly Searched
out, it will not appear that the Savages have acted So very wide from
Such Principles, nor ſo much beyond the natural Influence of Such motives, as
they
[left]Lett.r to D.r A. Gifford
Oct.r 31. 1763.


They may be Reaſsonably Supposed to be govern’d by under their
groſs Ignorance, and the Influence of Jesuitical Inſinuations, as
they are now ſupposed to do. and then I truſt the Reſentments
of many which are now ſo keen againſt them, will at
leaſt have a Mixture of compaſsion towards them as con­
ſidering them to have given this Deſparate Struggle only to
deliver themſelves from that Ruin and Slavery which they
imagine is deſignd againſt them.
I hope Something effectual will be done in this matter to prevent
Such floods of Evil from that Quarter in Time to come.
Dear M.r Smith (of Whoſe Ordination and Miſsion you have
likely heard) was cheirfully joyfully gladly received by 5 of the 6.
Nations
(the other being confederate with the Enemy) but they
look’d upon tho’t his Life So exposed by reaſon of Stragling Fellows
among them from diſtant Tribes, that they could not deſire him
to continue with them at preſent. he left them ſoon, after preach­
­ing a few Sermons, as did also Meſsrs Occom and Aſhpo , but
deſign if it Shall be judged Safe to return to them in the Spring.
This Rupture has prevented Such an Addition to my Number
this Fall as I hoped for, by the Aſsiſtances of those Miſsionaries
I hope the Lord will open the Door for it in the Spring.
My School is yet in good Circumſtances, the youth behave
well, excepting Jacob. the young man who has been at New-
Jerſey College
(and would doubtleſs have had his Degree
there laſt month if my Letters had not been delayed)
He has of late appeared to be under Such Temptations, as ariſes,
or have their principal Strength from Diſcouragements.
It is a point Settled with him, that without a Saving Change
he Shall never be fit for public uſefulneſs. And as to Such a
Change he Says, “There is no hope” and Seems Sometimes
to be open to all manner of Temptations, always uneaſie,
and Sometimes Seems appears to be juſt upon the point to give him­
ſelf over to Senſual Gratifications. I hant time fully to
diſcribe his caſe. this Hint is Sufficient to give you an
underſtanding of it.
I beſpeak your Earneſt Prayers for him, He once appeard
to have a very Tender Conſcience, and Seemd for Some Time
to be in the Exercisſe of truly gracious Affections. He is a
good Scholar, and likely to be an Inſtrument of great Good
if God Should pleaſe mercifully to deliver him from these
Bonds.
Pleaſe Sir, if you have Opportunity, to make Gen.l Lyman
of this Government who is now in England, a Sharer in Your
Friendſship and Reſpect. I wiſh his merit may meet a
proper Reward. And I truſt You will not be wanting in
your Endeavours, as you have opportunity to forward
his Intreſt, and also the Intereſts of this School, which
he is concerned for. Revd Hon.d & Dear. ſir I am with SincereMuch Affection and
Eſteem. Rev d Hon.d, and Dear Sir.
Your unworthy Brother,
and Fellow Servant in the Lords House
Eleazar Wheelock
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